The Former Liberation Movements of Southern Africa Leading Cadres Workshop 2022 at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School Photo: Courtesy of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School

Today, against the backdrop of increasing exchanges in various fields between China and African countries, some rising stars in African politics and business are being nourished by China's experiences in development. 

The Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School based in Tanzania is an institute for southern African countries. It opened earlier this year with its first workshop held in late May and early June. Under the theme of "New Development in the New Era: Exploration by and Exchanges between the CPC and the Former Liberation Movements of Southern Africa," it gathered 120 young and middle-aged officials from six major Southern African parties.

After the first training workshop, all participants wrote a letter "to thank Comrade Xi Jinping for facilitating the training," according to Marcellina Chijoriga, principal of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School.

To their surprise, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, replied to the letter, the Xinhua News Agency reported on June 10.

In his letter, Xi said he is pleased to know that the workshop was successfully held, during which the participants discussed the important topics of what kind of development a ruling party should lead its country to pursue in the new era and how to pursue it, learnt  from each other, and gained better understanding of such topics.

Xi pointed out that the realization of national development, national rejuvenation, and people's happiness requires continuous efforts for generations.

Building a better world requires exchanges and mutual learning among countries, he said, adding that the participants are determined to be the pioneer of the times and the pillar of national rejuvenation, which is the original purpose of the school.

"We have seen how China has developed over the decade, which shows the world that their development paths are working. Strong leadership has been a major factor contributing to economic success," Chijoriga, the principal, said.

"The cadres pay attention to many aspects of the CPC's growth paths… After the May 2022 training, participants appreciated the 14 principles that China is applying to achieve tremendous and fast development," she said.

These principles include governance, ensuring every aspect of development is people-centered, rule of law, ensuring utmost discipline in the Party, and equality of all countries regardless of size, wealth, and strength, thus building a community with a shared future for mankind, and environmental protection, among others. These could work for their respective countries, the principal summarized.

Marcellina Chijoriga, principal of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School Photo: Xinhua

"To me, any international force that seriously supports those areas in a win-win approach can be a good opportunity to take. A friend who supports growing and improving your economy is a good friend," Chijoriga said. 

Noting that youth is always accompanied by dreams, Xi said in his letter that he hopes the participants make the best of what they have learned, keep working hard, and embrace their youthful ambitions on the journey to realize the dream of national rejuvenation and African rejuvenation.

China and Africa belong to a community with a shared future that shares weal and woe, and the hope of long-term friendship between the Chinese and African people rests with the younger generation, Xi noted.

Xi said he hopes that the participants voluntarily shoulder the responsibility and mission entrusted to them by this era, take an active part in the cause of the China-Africa friendship, carry forward and pass on the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and contribute to the building of a high-quality China-Africa community with a shared future.

According to Chijoriga, a total of 120 trainees participated in the training workshop. Their average age was 41. There were 55 women and 65 men. There were 20 individuals from each of the six participatory countries - Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Talking about the future leaders of Africa, Chijoriga said "they have more hope to shoulder the responsibilities than before. They promised to integrate theory with practice, and were fully devoted to seeking development for their countries, rejuvenation for their nations, and happiness for their people."

They feel able to explore the new world, build capacities and capabilities of their people, and make due contributions to their countries' political and socio-economic development, she said.

The Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School was named after the first chairman of Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and Tanzania's former president Julius Nyerere, in memory of his important contributions to the national liberation movement of southern Africa.

The leadership school was co-founded by six parties in southern Africa: Tanzania's CCM, the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, the Mozambique Liberation Front Party, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the SWAPO Party of Namibia, and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

A view of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania Photo: Courtesy of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School